Virtual office visits appeal to patients, physicians, insurers

Titusville, FL-based physician Frank Dienst, MD, is among the first physicians in Central Florida to conduct online, reimbursed consultations with patients. And now that three major health-insurance plans are reimbursing physicians for online consultations, Dienst expects he'll soon have plenty of company. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has reimbursed a limited number of online visits for nearly four years. It has been slow to catch on, however—Blue Cross officials estimate the total number of monthly online visits statewide is about 50, with fewer than a dozen being submitted for reimbursement.